We fell in love

over a cup of coffee in Baja, Mexico. It took us ten years to find the perfect antique Italian wood roaster.

Paul drinks his coffee as strong as possible-- up to 4 cups a day, but no less than 2. Emily drinks 2 cups a day, the first to fulfill her physical needs and the second to fulfill her spiritual needs. It's not uncommon for her to get teary-eyed thinking about how much she loves coffee during that second cup.

We are really excited for you to taste our coffee. Contact us at rustbeltroastery at gmail dot com or 517-898-7063.

(Then, and now)

Our Commitment to Social Justice and Sustainability

There are many certifications available in the world of coffee beans: Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, Organic, Bird Friendly, etc. We are committed to many of the values that the certifications advocate, with social justice and environmental sustainability at the forefront. However, certifications are not a blanket cure, due to corruption and lack of dependable infrastructure in many of the areas where coffee is grown. To that end we are educating ourselves and talking with our importers about their standards and requirements and observations. We will offer some certified coffees, but our minds are also open to non-certified coffees as well, provided we understand the importer has specific knowledge that the coffee was grown under humane and sustainable conditions. Please be in touch with us if you have any questions regarding these issues.

At our end here in Lansing, we believe every step counts. From compostable paper bags and biodegradable cups for our coffee to using renewable fuel in our roaster we are committed to leaving the smallest carbon footprint possible. We even compost our spent coffee grounds by feeding them to our red wiggler worms!